Patents by Inventor John Houkal

John Houkal has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method and system for configuring a computer network
    Patent number: 7080133
    Abstract: A method for configuring a computer network that includes a full duplex bi-directional first port and an initiator that can issue a request for the first port to assume a state. The first port, when in a first state, is able to bi-directionally communicate with a full duplex bi-directional second port, and when in a second state, is coupled to itself by having an output thereof coupled to an input thereof. The method comprises inhibiting the initiator from issuing the request, sending data to the initiator describing a desired state of the first port, and enabling the initiator to issue the request for the first port to assume the desired state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Burton, Richard Curtis Cleavinger, Nelson W. Gildenmeister, John Houkal, Kevin Kidney, John Timothy O'Brien, Kent D. Prosch